Customer Reviews

Spree: A Cultural History of Shopping

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I picked up Spree; A Cultural History of Shopping thinking it would be a quick and enjoyable read. Enjoyable, yes. Quick, no.

For such a small book (trade paperback, 230 pages including an excellent bibliography and index), Spree is packed with more information about shopping than you would have imagined.
Canadian author Pamela Klaffke examines shopping from a multitude of angles, taking only a few pages at most for each topic. She really knows how to distill information down to the basics, while remaining informative and entertaining. Learn about Muzak, malls, Tupperware, infomercials, pawn shops, mystery shoppers, dysfunctional shopping, mall walking, and more. My favorite chapter is Shopping and the Media, which examines how shopping is portrayed in movies, television (sitcoms and game shows), and music.

The text is interesting enough, but in the wide side margins of many pages are additional tidbits, such as a list of celebrity shoplifters, a list of celebrity cheapskates (Katie Couric!), and the evolution of Buy Nothing Day.

Great to browse through or to read from cover to cover.

This is a good read, certainly for those interested in history. It was a bit light and wasn't helpful in terms of marketing or research, but interesting none the less.

Journalist, culture columnist, and avid shopper Pamela Klaffke presents Spree: A Cultural History Of Shopping, which covers the ritual of purchasing and its evolution from "need" to "want" to "sport". Spree covers how inventions in modern history have transformed the shopping experience, from cash registers and shopping carts to the online shopping revolution; Spree also examines cultural differences in shopping around the world, from American malls to Parisian arcades. Black-and-white photographs, sidebar anecdotes, and a wealth of research presented in a cheerful narrative style make Spree more fun to read than an trip to the mall - also more educational and very likely less costly!

I loved this book. Every page was filled with interesting facts I did not previously know. Who knew the word Muzak was invented in the 1930s? Not me. I was constantly reading passages aloud to whoever was nearby to hear, (my mother, my best friend, my boss, a random student in the Starbuck's).

I would suggest this book for anyone interested in the socio-cultural aspects and impact of shopping.

Spree is a fabulous and fun book. Whether you're a trivia buff, curious shopper, or just want a little defense of your favourite pasttime, this is a great book for understanding and appreciating all that is shopping. Klaffke's style is witty and sharp, and the book is consumable in short bits - perfect for waiting in long line ups.

Spree is a fabulous and fun book. Whether you're a trivia buff, curious shopper, or just want a little defense of your favourite pasttime, this is a great book for understanding and appreciating all that is shopping. Klaffke's style is witty and sharp, and the book is consumable in short bits - perfect for waiting in long line ups.